Vending machine



Sept. 22, 1931. 'H. GREENHILL 1,323,896

VENDING MACHINE Filed March 1. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 22, 1931. H. GREENHILL VENDING MACHINE Filed March 1. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1931. H. GREENHILL 1,823,896

VENDING MACH INE Filed March 1, i928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 MWf/mJ Aw MM H. GREENHILL 1,823,896

VENDING MACHINE Sept. 22, '1 931.

Filed March 1. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet. 4 I

flifr zessx @wenfaiz' fiGzrolcl Green/51'?! (2/ 4w MM Sept. 22, 1931. H. GREENHILL VENDING MACHINE Filed March 1,

1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 AM-MM Patented Sept. 22, 1931 names rrnnornennnnninn, or onr oneo, ILLINOIS vnnnmo ivrliomnn Application filed March 1,

:ly invention pertains to the general class of devices known as vending machines and particularly to the class of devices for vend-- ly 'lerewith ing articles and simultaneous 5 providing amusement for the prospective purchaser. An object of applicants invention is the production of a device whereby articles may be vended automatically. A further object of applicants invention is'the production of an automatic vending device wherein amusement is provided simultaneously with the prospective sale. A further object of applicants invention is the production of a vending machine for the purpose of stimulating 'sales and meeting competition with crevices of a similar character. A further object of applicants invention is the production of a combined vending machine and apparatus for improving 111.2...rstuanship. A further object of applicants invention is the production of a de ice simple in 7 construction. of low cost, automatic in operation, durable and satisfactory for its intended purpose.

construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art 0 Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

4: is an end elevation opposite the end shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 0 Fig. 7;

' Many other objects and advantages of the the lees. Serial no. 258,208.

Fig. 9 is a section'taken on line99 of is section taken; on line l010 1 s (IQ 12is a section taken on line 12-12 of is a section taken on line 13 13 of 2; and I l ig. 141 is a section taken on line l l14 of Fig. 7. t

Referring now to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. 1 shows a hollow oblong upright cas ing provided with a plurality of glass panels 2 positioned asdesired. The rear of the casing is provided with a door 3, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. At the front of the casing is a coin ejector l extending inwardly into the casing. Below the coin ejector l and positioned on each side of the casing I at the bottom thereof are receptacles 5 for catching the vended article as some is ejected from the machine. Above each receptacle 5. are shields 6 for the purpose of causing the vended articles to fall into the receptacle and otherwise shield same.

HUD

for the purpose of catching coins returned to the prospective purchaser through the aperture 8. Above the receptacle? and opposite the aperture 8 is a shield 9 for causing the ejected coin to fall into receptacle 7 and o herwise protect the aperture 8.

Referring now to Fig. '7 the glass panels 2 are shown secured to the inner'walls of the casing 1 by means of a plurality of lugs 10. The coin ejector d is shown pivoted at ll in the front of the casing by any suitable means such as a socket 12 and a ball l3,the ball 13 is secured to the coin ejector 4 by means of the'shank 14. Above the coin ejector is a transparent.panel 15 secured to the inner LET) a coin allowing the same to pass therethrough.

is a section taken on line 111l'0f About the aperture 18 are a plurality ofconcentric rings 19. The target 17 thus assimulatesthe customary target used in rifle and pistol practice. At the bottom of target 17 and in the space 20 between same and the rear wall of easing 1 is a chute 21 with an. inclined bottom 22, said chute leading to the aperture 8 and is for the purpose of discharging coins falling therein through the aperture 8 into the receptacle 7 in order that same may be recovered by the prospective purchaser. Chute 21 may be of any form but preferably is shaped in such manner that the coin to be ejected will pass through the aperture 8 in a certain position in order that the aperture 8 may be no longer than necessary. In the form shown, the coin passes through aperture 8 on edge or in an upright position. This is "accomplished by means of the converging wall 23 of chute 21. Between the target 17 and the coin ejector 4; is a sloping plate 2a which slopes downward in the general direction of the target 17. Intermediate the target 17 and the coin ejector a, the plate 2% is steeply inclined as shown at 25. On each side of the inclined portion 25 are inclined plates 26 and 27 which, together with a rear plate 28 and inclined portion 25,

form a converging chute 29. The converging chute 29 converges into a. portion 30 of more or less uniform diameter. The particular construction of the members 2%, 26, 27, 28 and 30 may be varied considerably. The construction shown is merely for the purpose of illustrating applicants invention. Rod 120 is'provided to flip the coin so that same will fold more or less vertically into portion 30. An additional plate 31 may be provided, if desired, for the purpose of strengthening the structure. At the lower end of the portion 30 is a closure member 32 supported by a member 33 which is pivoted at 34. The opposite end of the member 33 is positioned such that same engages notches 35 and 36 in a disk 37. Disk 37 isconnected to clock mechanism (not shown) and members 33 and 37 are for the purpose of placing same in motion and stopping same. Below the portion 30 is a chamber 38 for the collection of coins dropping down through chute 29. Door 3 is providedwith suitable lock 39 and lugs l0; thus making same removable by persons possessing a key to lock 39. Coins dropping into chamber 38, of course, are extracted through door. 3. Disk 37 is mountedon the shaft 11'.

Disk 37 may be of the form shown in Fig. 5. Disk 37 is shown with an annular groove 12; thus forming flanges 13 around the circumferential edges of disk 37. The notches 35 and 36 are formed by cutting away portions of the flanges 43. The member 33 may have an angularportion 33 as shown in Fig. 5;

The end portion of 33 which engages the disk 37 may have a plate 14 attached thereto. The clock mechanism heretofore referred to tion with respect to Fig. 7. It is thus seen that the shaft 11 is held from turning by means of the plate 1 1- on the arm 33 engaging either one of the notches 35 or 36. At the outer ends of shaft 14 are attached disks 16 and 47. The disks l6 and 4t? have arms t8 and 19, respectively, pivoted thereto adjacent the circumference thereof. The pivot on the disk 46 is staggered with respect to the pivot 51 on the disk 7. Pivots 50 and 51 are preferably 180 apart with respect to the shaft 41. The purpose of this is that the articles tended will be ejected alternately from each side of the casing. The front 52 of casin 1. is attache-(l to the it cd of bottom 53 of easing 1 by means of lugs 54 engaging flanges 55 on the bottom of the edge. There is preferably one lug 54 on each side of casing 1. ofcasing 1 is a plate 56. Plate 56 upon its longitudinal edges is formed with a recess 57 Above recess 57 is attached a plate 58. A groove is thus formed which accommodates one edge of an article ejector 59 or 60. Attached to opposite sides of easing 1 opposite the recesses 57 and plates 58 are members 61 and recessed similar to the longitudinal edges of the plate 56. Above the recesses in members 61 and 62 and attached to the members 61 and 62 are plates 63 and 64, respectively. Members 61 and63 form a guide for one edge of article ejector 59 and members 62 and 64 form a guide for one edge of the article ejector 60. Arm 48 is attached to article ejector 59 and arm 19 is attached to article ejector 60. On opposite sides of the inner face of front 52 are vertical chutes 65.

of article ejectors 59 and 60. hutes 65 are preferably rectangular in cross section in the preferred form and hold rectangular articles of relatively sma l thickness such as gum, pieces of chocolate, etc. However, the shape of these chutes may be varied to suit practice. At the bottom of each chute is an aperture 66 in the front wall 52. A shield 67 is preferably attached to the inner wall of front same having an extension 68 which extends downward over a portion ofthe aperture 66 in order that only one article will be dispensed at a time. The extreme forward position of article ejector 60 is shown in. Fig. 10, the same being shown extending into the aperture 66 under the shield 67. A half revolution of the disk 37 will bring article ejector 6O rearward thus allowing another article to be dispensed to fill the space occupied thereby. A second half revolution of the disk 37 iittached to the front 52 will cause article ejector 60 to eject said article outward throughthe aperture 66, same dropping into the receptacle 5. In the front 52 opposite the chutes 65 may be positioned longitudinally extending vertical transparent panels 69. These panels are for the purpose of showing whether or not the machine has therein, a supply of articles to be vended. The front 52 may be provided'with a lock at its upper edge.

The construction of the coin ejector is as follows: Referring to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, coin ejector t consists of two body casing members 71 and 72 secured together and shaped to assimulate a pistol. A front sight is provided at the forward end. Casing 72 is shown in Fig. 13. Casing 72 has a channel 73 extending longitudinally thereof. Channel 73 accommodates plunger 7e. Plunger 7a is held in channel 73 by means of a fiat member 75 secured to casing 72 by suitable screws 76. Plunger 74 is offset at 77 in order to pass between member 75 and casing 72 in channel 73. Plunger 7 a has a pin 78 extending from the face thereof, said pin in its forward position engaging notch 79 in member 7 5. Casing 72 has a recess 80. At the forward end of recess 80 is a pin 81 which supports one end of spring 82. The other end of spring 82 is attached to pin 83 on plunger 74. Plunger 74 is held in the position shown in Fig. 13 due to the action of spring 82. Plunger 74 is actuated as follows: Trigger 8% is pivoted at 85 to casing 7 2. At the inner end 86 of trigger 84 is pivotcd a link 87. Link 87 is pivoted to a link 88 at 89. Link 88 is pivoted to casing 72 at 90. Trigger 8% is held in the position shown in Fig. 13 by means of spring 91 attached to link 87 at 92 and attached to casing 72 at 93. At the other end of link 88 opposite the pivot 89 is a pivoted catch member 94 for the purpose of engaging the pin 95on the plunger 7 4. The catch member 94- has an inwardly projecting finger 96 thereon which engages one side of link 88 in order that catch member 9% will be held in the position shown in Fig. 13 by spring 97 which is attached thereto. Catch member 94. has an inwardly projecting portion 98 (see Fig. 12) for engaging the pin 95. In operation, on pulling the trigger 84-, member 9a rises to engage pin 95 pulling plunger 7 f to the left with respect to Fig. 13. Catch member 94 eventually rises high enough to disengage the pin 95 allowing same to move forward under the action ofthe spring 82. It is this force which ejects the coin from the coin ejector. In casing 7 2' on each side of the channel 73-are shoulders 100 and 101. Shoulders 100 and 101 are oppositely arranged in order to form a continuous the member 75..- The member 75 is positioned in a recess in the casing 72 in order that same is flush with the shoulders 100 and '101. The

coin is placed in theslot 102 and drops downdrawn back slightly by pulling on the trigger 84s, the coin drops all the .way into slot 102 and is in line to be ejected through the slot formed by shoulders 100 and 101. Thereason for first supporting the coin on the pin 78 is for the purpose ofsighting. The coin protrudes slightly above the slot-102 for this purpose; p

The operation of the device is as follows. The coin is placed in slot 102 of coin ejector a as previously explained. After sighting in an effort to have the coin pass through aperture 18,the trigger 84 is pulled backward and the coin ejected from the slot formed by shoulders 100 and 101 and casing 71. Should thecoin pass through the aperture 18, same will be returned to the prospective purchaser by means of chute ,21. The coin drops through aperture 8 into receptacle 7. 1 No sale is made in this: instance. Should the coin strike the target 17 and not pass through the aperture 18, same will drop downward into chute 29, pass outward through member 30 engaging the closure member 31; thus actuating arm 33. Plate 44 is disengaged from either notch35 or 36 on disk 37 momentarily and disk 37 makes one-half revolution. The arm 33 is weighted in order thatthe closure member 32 will return to its original position. Thus, the plate 44 will engage the next notch in disk 37. During the half revolution of the disk 37 shaft 41 turns one-half revolution and one article is pushed forward out through an aperture 66 in the front wall'52 and into a receptacle 5. In this case, a sale has been made. It is thus seen that amusement is provided for the prospective purchaser. The extent of theamusement for each sale is determined by the skill and marksmanship of the prospective purchaser. The coins falling into chamber 38 are withdrawn by removing door3. Chutes 65 are filled by releasing the latch of lock 70 with a key and drawin the front wall 52 of casing 1 slightly forwar The glass panel 15 above the coin ejector 4; is preferably spaced from the coin ejector. In

- order to allow free movement of the coin ejector. It is also preferably to sight under the glass panel15, however, it is also possible to sight through the glass if same is brought down close to the top of the ejector.

Having thus described myinvention. it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made inthe same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction,

arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

WVhat I'claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is: 1 1. In a vending machine, a pair of article magazines, a rotatable shaft, means for r0- tating said shaft, a pair of disks fixedly mountedon the shaft, a reciprocably movable plate for each magazine for ejecting articles therefrom, links connected With said disks and said plates whereby rotation of the shaft reciprocally moves the plates to eject articles alternately from said'magazines, and means for locking said shaft against rotation.

2. in a vending machine, a pair of article magazines, a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pair of disks fixedly mounted on the shaft, a reciprocally movable plate for each magazine for ejecting articles therefrom, links connected with said disks and said plates whereby rotation of the shaft reciprocally moves the plates to eject articles alternately from said magazines, and means for locking said shaft against rotation, said locking means including a third disk fixed on the shaft and having diametrically opposite notches in its periphery, and a pivotally mounted lever normally having one end thereof operatively engaging one of said notches toform a stop preventing rotation of the shaft and disks.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HAROLD GREENHILL. 

